ALERT: Save Russia's Lake Baikal: World's Largest Body of Freshwater Threatened
UPDATE: This alert was successful! Russia has announced Lake Baikal will be spared oil pipeline threat.
TAKE ACTION: Let Russian government know oil and water do not mix
A controversial Russian crude oil pipeline from eastern Siberia to the Pacific coast threatens the world's largest freshwater lake. The pipeline may pass within less than one kilometer of Lake Baikal -- a UNESCO protected World Heritage site and home to 20 percent of the world's fresh water. Lake Baikal, called the "Jewel of Siberia", is the world's deepest and oldest lake renowned for its water purity and home to tremendous amounts of endemic species including a rare fresh water seal. It is feared that an earthquake, forest fire or flood around Lake Baikal could rupture the pipeline, sending 4,000 tons of crude oil into the world's largest freshwater body in just 20 minutes.
Experts, including specialists from the Russian Academy of Sciences, have said the oil pipeline should run as far as possible from the coast of Baikal. Scientists who conducted the state assessment of the plan found that in the event of an earthquake there is a high likelihood that water quality would be severely diminished and permanent damage to the unique wildlife would occur, and thus recommended its construction near Baikal be stopped. There has been strong local opposition to the project for years, including recent protests by Russian environmentalists.
Project plans are continually changing, with important questions including whether the pipeline route will fall within the Baikal water catchment still unresolved. Please send an email supporting local campaigns to ensure the final pipeline route steers well clear of Lake Baikal and its watershed, and to promote sustainable development in the Baikal region.
Comments
Don't threaten the lake Baikal. There is others energetics possibilities. Small scale and more adapted.
Posted by: sarah bertoliatti | April 21, 2006 4:14 AM
save Russia's lake bakal
Posted by: dinda evans | April 24, 2006 1:55 PM
Please weigh the other options before this one is greenlighted.
Posted by: Alexander White | April 25, 2006 11:03 PM
Please save Lake Baikal.
Posted by: Michael Salling | April 26, 2006 1:03 AM
Poetin ensures Oil Pipeline Steers Clear of Lake Baikal!!!!
Thanks Glenn for your actions so far as they have been fruitful!!!
Poetin ensures the new pipeline will be build atleast 40 km away from Lake Baikal instead of the planned 800m.
Posted by: Rob Beijer | April 26, 2006 6:31 AM
Fantastic!!
Julie
Posted by: Julie | April 26, 2006 8:40 PM
It seems we won! Hurray!!! Thank you for your help!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Tatiana Windsor | April 26, 2006 8:43 PM
I thought Lake Superior was the largest body of fresh water in the world.
Phil
Posted by: phil | April 27, 2006 6:33 AM
thank you for saving Lake Baikal!
Posted by: beth salling | May 1, 2006 11:19 PM
Could you please advise if Lake Superior in Michigan USA or Lake Baikal in Russia is the largest body of fresh water in the world?
RESPONSE: Lake Baikal is the largest in terms of volume of water - I know this for sure. Amazingly, more water than all the great lakes. I believe but am not sure that Lake Superior is the largest in terms of surface area.
Posted by: Bill Lucas | July 4, 2006 2:31 AM
Logging is the next big threat.Very serious threat
Posted by: Log Man | September 11, 2006 10:21 PM
i think that it great that we are talking about cleaning the lake but how are we supose to do it Bioremediation filtration what ?
Posted by: sueanne | December 15, 2006 1:11 PM